I would really appreciate any reviews and feedback, this is my first story and I'd love to know if you like where I'm taking this. I hope you enjoy Chapter 3!

Chapter 3: Breathless

Hermione stormed through the corridors of Hogwarts, feeling her heartbeat against her ribcage and listening to the sound of her footsteps echoing through the ancient halls of her beloved schools. Her thoughts were a whirlwind in her mind, she couldn't decide what filled her with more disbelief, what she had just done or the fact she felt good about it. It had felt good to see Ron feel a small fraction of the pain that he had made her feel. Many people during their time at Hogwarts had made Hermione feel ashamed about her blood status or the devotion she had to her work, but she had hoped her two best friends would not be the source of that shame.

She knew she would apologise later but had no plans to do it any time soon. She could not shake the feeling of rage. Hermione had not even had time to consider the return of the voice to her head. It had only spurred on what she would ordinarily be too afraid to do.

Hermione turned a corner passing many portraits she would ordinarily stop to share a conversation with but not today, she was in no mood. With a backward glance, she saw the disappointed looks of the portraits and mentally added more apologies to her list.

She walked through the entry way into the space in Hogwarts where she had truly found herself, the library. The books had provided Hermione with information she longed for and the friends she had never had before she started at Hogwarts and whenever she felt down, Hermione would always seek the solace and safety of the library. Hermione moved deep in the library until she found what she was looking for, dropping her messenger bag and began to peruse the shelves for what she needed. Hermione looked at the tomes and the magic that had gone to creating them and found she could not remember why she had come. Glancing at the Ancient Runes books, she felt suddenly disinterested which was unlike her but after what had just happened, she could not be surprised that she felt unable to concentrate.

Hermione reached down to her feet where she had dumped her bag only moments before, holding the brown strap and pressing it over her shoulder as she prepared to leave the library. Hermione let out a long-held sigh and exchanged a quick smile with Madam Pince as she walked back to the entrance, she had only recently walked through.

Distracted by her thoughts, Hermione made her way back to the Head Dorms. She realised she needed to be on her own, a time where she could do her best thinking in privacy. Her legs took her to where she needed to go whilst she felt lost in her thoughts of what had occurred that day. A day that normally made Hermione feel so much joy, had become one of the worst she could remember. Nothing compared to the hurt caused by friends. Finally, she reached the portrait of the 'Dark Couple' who ordinarily ignored Hermione's presence but today, noticing Hermione's mood untangled themselves from their embrace and waited patiently for Hermione to utter the password. Without even raising her head, Hermione uttered the word 'unity' and the couple looked on in concern as the door to the dormitory opened and Hermione was granted access.

Hermione moved quickly through the slim hallway and entered her new home and she felt visibly relaxed as she took a deep breath in, dropping her bag once more and wrapping her arms around herself. Hermione closed her eyes and began to think. Why had Ron felt so determined to hurt her? What bee had got under his bonnet and what did she do to deserve that? Yes, her and Draco had worked well together in potions but that was the aim of the assignment and the boys knew how devoted she was to doing her work properly. Ron was jealous, there is no doubt. It was not her fault; she was sufficient at potions and he was not. She would have done well no matter who she had partnered with, his issue was Malfoy.

With this thought, Hermione opened her eyes. Malfoy. Hermione looked at her hand and she lowered them from wrapping them around her and considered the moment they had touched. Hermione had expected to be shocked at the cold when she touched him but instead, when Hermione's palm met with Draco's, it was warm and she could not deny, it felt nice. Hermione remained lost in this thought, when she heard the sound of the portrait door opening which could only mean Draco had returned.

"Hello," Hermione mumbled.

Draco exchanged a glance with Hermione as he moved to sit on their large sofa and nodded in response. He noticed she appeared distracted and practically bursting at the seams to say something, so he merely busied himself with a book left on the table and waited for Hermione to say something.

"Malfoy, can I ask you a question?" Hermione turned and focused all of her attention on the blond Slytherin. Raising his attention from the book, he smirked to himself. That was quicker than he had expected. "If you must Granger" Malfoy replied as he leaned back into the chair.

"Why are boys so pig-headed when they are jealous?" Hermione asked. Draco could do nothing but laugh at this, but he knew she had asked this with seriousness and sincerity. When he had composed himself, he took in Hermione, she was no longer the ugly witch he had once made fun of, she was something else indeed.

"I did wonder what that exchange in the great hall about and I must say it was no surprise to me to see you lose your patience with the red headed imbecile." Draco began and he could see Hermione did not like this, "If you're going to do the same, I won't bother next time," Hermione huffed as she started to collect her things.

"Patience Granger, not a strength of you Gryffindors is it?" Draco remarked, "I would suggest when most boys act 'pig-headed' as you call it, it is because they are hurt and jealous so you must have bruised little Weasel's feelings, no wonder he behaves like an infant child."

Hermione gave this thought and wondered what on earth had made him so jealous. She knew Ron did not like Draco but why would he be jealous of him? Aside from no longer having her to use to his advantage in potions. Draco watched as she appeared lost in her thoughts and waited for her to catch up with his insult.

As Draco reached to continue with his book, he heard Hermione gasp, "No matter what he may or may not have said and done, you do not get to speak about my friends in that way Draco Malfoy!" Hermione moved closer and closer to Draco as she enunciated every word to further her point. "just because you are a Slytherin does not make you any better than me. You are only a carbon copy of your Father." Draco would not take any more insult at this point and he stood from his chair in front of Granger, standing a foot taller than she.

"You listen here, and you listen good Granger, do you understand?" Draco stared down at Hermione as she stared back in defiance. Draco stepped forward and watched her take a step back. "I do not need nor care to hear your opinions of me, my family or Slytherin. I know I am powerful, and I know I am better than someone who thinks they can tell me what to do. You may be head girl Granger, but you will do to remember I am head boy and I have just as much power as you!" Draco finished as Hermione felt her body being pressed against a wall on the other side of the room as the two had entered a dance as Draco advanced forward with his speech and Hermione moved back.

Hermione felt Draco's firm, muscular body pressed into her and she felt the breath leave her chest as Draco leant down and appeared to be staring at her lips. Was he going to kiss her? In that moment, she wasn't sure if she minded as she felt Draco's hands make contact with the concrete wall either side of her head. Hermione could not get her breathing to return to normal as she felt Draco stare and consider her facial features. He seemed to advance further and further to her lips and Hermione slowly closed her eyes. Hermione felt so lost in the moment, she didn't know what he was going to do next and as Draco closed his eyes too. They both heard a knock at their portrait door. Draco glanced up and pressed his fists into the wall, looking into Hermione's eyes, "I'll get that, shall I sweetheart?" Draco said with a wink.

Draco released Hermione from her position on the wall and moved through the passageway to their portrait door and Hermione breathless tried to focus on what was happening.

"Christ, what do you two muppets want?" Hermione heard Draco ask.

"We don't want to talk to you Malfoy, we came here to talk to Hermione!" Ron argued back.

"If you two prats hadn't noticed, this is my dormitory too and I don't actually have to let you in," Draco remarked as Hermione could see Ron seething from her position in their dormitory.

"You can't stop us Malfoy, if we want to come in, we will!" Ron continued to try and fight his way in.

Draco cast a stinging hex causing Ron to move back, "Let your thick little brain understand, Weasel, if we don't want you in our dormitory, we do not have to let you in!" Hermione could see Ron's anger growing as Draco kept referring to their home as his and she knew she had to step in before it escalated any further.

"Thank you, Malfoy, I think I can manage this from here," as she took in her two best friends outside of her dormitory.

"Well do say, if you need help throwing the vermin out Granger, I have no problem with helping with that." Draco laughed as he walked back through their passageway and into the dormitory.

"You absolute…" Ron started.

"Yes, thank you Ronald, I think we could all do with being spared from your choice language. What can I help you boys with?" Hermione asked as the two boys appeared to remember why they had come to find Hermione in the first place.

The boys looked at one another wondering who was going to start as Hermione waited patiently and making no move to let either boy in. "Well?"

Hermione remained in her position as she got a half-assed apology from the boys who reiterated how hard they found her new position and that they were worried about sixth year and what would happen in potions. Hermione was surprised this had happened so quickly but knew she couldn't expect anything less. Hermione tried to remain interested but still felt flustered from what had just occurred with Malfoy. When the boys had finished and both appear to be thoroughly embarrassed at their actions, Hermione spoke, "You are my best friends, and no best friend should treat someone the way you just treated me. I will forgive you both, but I ask that you never treat me that way again."

The boys nodded enthusiastically at Hermione as they were thankful at the small telling off, they had received and tried to coax her into coming back to the Gryffindor common room with them. Hermione declined immediately. "I think I need some time by myself after this afternoon." Both boys nodded and knew they were the reason she did not want to come and with that, Hermione closed her portrait door and disappeared back inside.

Hermione took a moment to steady herself in the passageway before she walked through and into their shared common room and saw Malfoy had resumed his position on the sofa.

Hermione stared in disbelief, he did not even raise his eyes as she re-entered the room and he appeared entirely unaffected at what had just taken place between them. Hermione huffed. "Malfoy, you heard Professor Snape today, we need to meet and write a discussion on our potion. I suggest Thursday evening in the library. Do not be late." Draco barely raised his eyes from his book before Hermione had finished and disappeared into her dormitory and slamming the door behind her.

Hermione did not leave her room for the remainder of the day and instead opted for a small dinner in her room and an early night in bed. She settled down as she saw darkness outside her window and hoped it would not take her long to find sleep this evening. She felt her breath slow down as her eyes closed and knew it would not take long. As she felt sleep about to take over her, she heard it again.

"I think darkness could be your friend sweetheart."

…and with that, Hermione closed her eyes and fell asleep.